My wife and I will be spending 3 nights in Bellagio in early October and are looking for a hotel that would offer a direct view of the lake, preferably with a balcony. Does anyone have any suggestions? Price is not a concern. Thanks for your help!

We previously stayed at Hotel du Lac facing the lake with two small balconies. It was OK. This past summer we stayed at Hotel Metropole with a balcony with two chairs literally hanging over the lake with breathtaking views. The hotel was nice, very clean and friendly, but won't win any major decorating prizes. The only concern we had was a lack of air-conditioning, but in October that is NO problem right on the lake.
You won't find a more DIRECT balcony on the lake than here.

http://www.albergometropole.it/index.htm

I'm going to second Patrick's suggestion of the Metropole but if price isn't an issue you might want to consider getting one of the rooms on the first floor with a terrace (rather than a balcony).

Believe me, these terraces are huge & hang right out over the water.

Here's a link to some pictures I posted on TripAdvisor;

http://tinyurl.com/yrzrey

And here's my trip report;

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34598121

Jim

We stayed at the Hotel Florence about 8 years ago and loved it!

We did not have a balcony in our room, but we have a lake view and full-sized doors that opened -- we would pull a chair up to the railing and enjoy the view even though it wasn't a true balcony.

We stayed at the Metrople and had the first floor corner terrace overlooking the lake.The outside resturant is on the right and below your window.They hadve a large umbrellowed table with two chaise lounges on each private terrace.It is reasonable in price around 200 euros.Don't get the meal plan the breakfast is included with the room ,but the dinners are only fair.When you walk outside streetside there is a narrrow alley which goes up very high. The resturants on both sides of the alley are all great just decide on the view you like .One resturant was under a large sprawling grape vine overlooking the mount in the center of the lake.Wait until you see the scenery on the lake when you take the ferry over to Bellagio.Three towns and the belltowers must be like heaven.You are only a few miles from Switzerland which has regular busses from I think Verenna, but check on the town.If your arriving bt train just walk down the hill it will ,take you right to the ferry landing take your camersa out! Good luck.

We stayed at Hotel Belvedere last summer, which has the most gorgeous lakeside views from many of its rooms. Most rooms have small to medium-sized balconies.

The hotel has a small swimming pool, and is about a ten minute walk from the center of town.

RR,

We, too, have stayed at the Metropole, but if "price is not a concern", I would stay at the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, just a short walk up the street from Metropole....a much more beautiful property.

I agree with the Villa Serbelloni. We stayed there last summer and it was wonderful. It's second only to Villa d'Este

I would second the Belvedere. Great views, laid back and wonderful staff, plus a great restaurant. What else is there? Gradyghost